Copilot Dog Training
Share
Positive Reinforcement Training for the Urban Pup
Words to remove from your dog vocab in 2026:
✨ stubborn
✨ guilty
✨ manipulative
✨ spiteful
We tend to use “stubborn” when a dog won’t do something we think they should be able to do.
They stop on a walk, ignore a cue outside, refuse to get in the car, won’t come inside, or suddenly can’t do something they’ve done a million times.
But calling it stubborn doesn’t tell us WHY it’s happening — and it definitely doesn’t help us figure out what to do next.
Maybe the environment is too distracting. Maybe they’re nervous about what’s ahead. Maybe the skill isn’t as solid here as it is at home. Maybe the reward doesn’t match the difficulty. Maybe they’re tired, uncomfortable, or overwhelmed.
So next time your dog is being “stubborn,” don’t stop at the label. Take a second to think about what might be making that behavior hard right now and switch it up.
Dogs are one of the few species that play well into adulthood, and I think that’s a huge part of what makes our relationship with them so special.
Play builds the human/canine bond, helps us get better at reading our dogs’ body language, and it is HEALING — it builds endorphins, joy, and connection. It can even help dogs retain information after training! But when we say “play,” we don’t necessarily mean throwing a tennis ball over and over. Get on the ground. Wrestle. Tug. Chase each other. Roll around. Laugh. Figure out what makes both of you have fun!
09/18/2026
The cookie pushers would like a word 👋
09/11/2026
Thanks for letting your dogs be weird with us this summer at drop-off training 🧡
🫶 Susy, Hailey, Alli & Matt
09/02/2026
A few things we recommend all the time for dogs living in the city:
White noise machine — if your dog barks at hallway noises, doors closing, neighbors coming home, or every mysterious sound outside your apartment.
Frosted window film — for window barking, staring/fixating at people or dogs outside, or dogs who spend a little too much of their day on neighborhood watch.
The Snoop — for dogs who need more to do at home, especially on days when walks are shorter. Bonus: it won’t sound like you dropped a bowling ball every time your dog plays with it.
Long leash — for dogs who want to sniff, wander, and explore but can’t safely be off leash. More freedom without breaking Chicago leash laws.
Leash with a traffic handle — for crowded sidewalks, tight spaces, passing other dogs, or those moments when you need your dog close quickly.
Treat pouch — for reactivity, pulling, scavenging, surprise triggers, or just rewarding your dog for making good choices out in the world. Even if you’re “just going out to pee,” bring the treats.
None of these fix a behavior on their own, but good management can make a huge difference while you’re working on the actual training.
My mom used to tell us that one of her parenting strategies was to let her kids get into a little bit of trouble so they wouldn’t end up doing hard drugs.
She applied a similar philosophy to our childhood beagle, Hamlet. Hamlet had a habit of expressing his displeasure by knocking over the garbage can. He didn’t eat the garbage, he was usually making a statement about us eating dinner without him.
So here I am, years later, as a professional dog trainer, occasionally recommending that you let your dog get into trouble.
Sometimes you have to pick your battles. Letting your dog get away with the occasional harmless naughty behavior gives them opportunities to make choices without us constantly interrupting or directing them. It gives us more insight into their needs. And it can improve your relationship. If you ask your dog to leave every single thing they look at on a walk, that cue will lose meaning quickly. You may be better off letting your dog pick up a few sticks and save your “leave it” for the dead rat carcass. Do I let Artie steal and run around with my shoes sometimes? Yep. It’s harmless, he’s often using it as a displacement behavior to manage big feelings, and it’s kind of cute too.
Note: I never did hard drugs.
08/11/2026
Kinda chic ✨
08/10/2026
Two very special people got married last night.
I met Susy and Cailin early on in my training career, and I feel incredibly lucky that over the years they’ve become not only wonderful colleagues, but also friends.
These two bring out the best in each other (and each other’s dogs). They go together like a chihuahua and a heated blanket or a golden retriever and a tennis ball.
Please join me in wishing the newlyweds a huge congratulations when you see them! And if you signed up in time, you’ll get to see them in action together in Reactivity 2. Love you both ❤️
07/26/2026
One of the biggest mindset shifts in dog training is realizing that dogs don’t learn language the way we do.
We use words to explain. Dogs learn by making connections.
When the same word consistently predicts the same action and the same outcome, they start to understand what that word means.
But when we start filling the silence…
“Sit”
“Cmon, sit”
“I know you know this, you just don’t want to do it”
“SIT!”
…the cue becomes less clear. Your dog isn’t sorting through your explanation looking for the important word. They’re taking in your tone, your body language, the environment, and trying to figure out what predicts success.
That’s why professional trainers spend so much time thinking about timing and consistency. A cue (“command”) is simply information. The clearer and more predictable that information is, the easier it is for your dog to understand.
So the next time you’re tempted to repeat yourself, try this instead:
• Say the cue once.
• Pause for a second or two and let your dog process.
• If they don’t respond, don’t keep repeating the cue. Instead, make the exercise easier or help them succeed.
Dogs aren’t ignoring us because they need a better explanation or out of spite. Most of the time, they need clearer information.
07/22/2026
Introducing Puppy Socialization Adventures! 🌇
We know socialization is important—but between work, life, and the Chicago weather, it isn’t always easy to fit in all the outings your puppy needs during a critical time of their life.
That’s where we come in.
We’ll take your puppy on real-world adventures like cafés, parks, public transit, pet-friendly stores, neighborhood walks, and more. Every outing is thoughtfully planned around your puppy’s age, confidence, and comfort level.
The goal isn’t to meet as many people and dogs as possible.
It’s to help your puppy build positive associations with the world around them so they grow into a confident, adaptable adult.
Each adventure includes one-on-one time with a trainer, photos from the outing, and a recap of your puppy experienced.
If your puppy is between 12 weeks and 6 months old, we’d love to show them around Chicago.
Learn more through the link in our bio.
Click here to claim your Sponsored Listing.
Category
Contact the business
Website
Address
3266 N Elston Avenue
Chicago, IL
60618